Improvement in invalid-bedsteads



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Invalid Bedsteads. No. 158,913.

Patented Jan. 19, 1875.

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To all whom it may concern:

UNITED STATES PATENT EFrcE.

IMPROVEMENT IN IN VALID-BEDSTEADS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 158,913, dated January 19, 1875; application filed May 23,

Be it known that we, OSCAR G. CosBY and GEORGE W. McGovEEN, of Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Invalid-Bedsteads, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to certain improvements in invalid-bedsteads, the object vof which is to enhance the ease and quiet of the patient when changing his position. It consists in the combination of an endless cord, with mechanism for raising the hinged-head section, consisting of a lever-bracket, a slide, and a band and pulley, for the purpose'of giving a positive and 'easy downward adjustment of the head-section.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top view of an invalid-bedstead to which my improvement is attached. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of Fig. l on' line x m. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section of Fig. 2 on line y y.

Similar letters in the different gures indi'- cate corresponding parts.

A represents the head-board, to which the devices for elevating and depressing the headsection are attached. B i is a hinged footboard'. Care the side rails, andD the stretcher, which is tightened over rollers E, slitted at R, and provided with an opening, a, and an apron, b. W is another set of Arollers beneath the stretcher, from which the mattress and mattress-box T and U are suspended upon the bands or hoisting-straps V. H is the headsection, .which consists of a portion of the stretcher distended upon rollers, which are hinged at G to rollers E. 'L is a short shaft passing through the head-board of the bed stead, and terminating on the outside in a squared stern to receive a key for winding. N is a ratchet-wheel upon said shaft, which is engaged by a pawl, O, to hold the shaft in place when wound up. Said shaft L carries upon the inside of the headboard a band and cord pulley, M, around which passes the flexible bandi? and the endless cord Q, both of which are attached to a vertical slide, J, the endless cord passing around the second pulley below. The said slide J moves overa guide-bar, K, and is attached to the head-section through a lever-bracket, I, which latter is hinged to both slide and head-section. The great object to be attained in the working of the headsection of invalid-beds is to secure an easy, uniform, and

positive adjustment, which can always be relied upon, and which shall be as nearly noiseless as possible. This I accomplish to great advantage by combining with the slide J and its connections an endless cord, Q, which assists the band P in elevating the head-section, but more especially gives a positive and easy downward adjustment of the head section when lowering the same. This is an important feature in connection with the other devices shown, as frequently the slide gripes and refuses to pass down from the gravity of the head-section until the hand becomes very loose from being unwound, and then when it does start it falls with a jerk, the consequences of which would be disastrous to the patient. The addition of the endless cord obviates this dfticulty by imparting positive downward motion to the slide as soon as the shaft is turned.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of an endless cord, with mechanism for raising the hinged-head section of the stretcher-frame, consisting of a lever-bracket, a slide, and a band and pulley, substantially as and for the purpose described.

OSCAR G. COSBY. GEORGE W. MCGOVERN.

Witnesses:

G. O. CAWTHOEN, R.V N. HENRY. 

